Chapter 7-2

Early Christian, Jewish, and Byzantine Art

Title: Baptistry of The Orthodox, Ravenna: Clerestory and Dome: Baptism of Christ and Procession of Apostles, Gospels and Thrones, The Prophets Date: Early 5th century Source/ Museum: Ravenna, Italy Original wood then replaced by a dome, marble stucco and mosaic , on the clesetory AN ARCADE SPRINGS FROM COLUMNS Each main arch contains 3 arches Old Testament characters in stucco releif Pediments? Picture in Tondo shows the baptism of Jesus by John Lowest Ring? Apostles stand holding their crowns And are flanked by stylized plants

Title: Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus Medium: Marble Size: 4 X 8' (1.2 X 2.4 m) Date: c. 359 Source/ Museum: Grottoes of Saint Peter, Vatican, Rome

Baptized Roman

official

2 registers divided by

columns

Alternating gables

Top entablature-

inscriptions

Puttis- producing wine

for Christ

Jesus with Peter and

Paul at his sides rests

his feet on Aeolus

Early Byzantine Art

• Associated with the reign of Justinian 1 527-65

• 5th century to 726 (iconoclastic controversy)

• Monumental, Energizing, Far-reaching

• Eastern Empire flourished in the 5th and 6th Centuries

• Army and Navy reigned supreme

Title: Anthemius of Tralles and

Isidorus of Miletus. Church of

Hagia Sophia. View from the

southwest

Date: 532–37

Source/ Museum: Istanbul

532 rioters destroyed half of

Constantinople….

Justinian and Theodora his wife

embarked on a massive building

project

“Holy Wisdom”

Build by scholars not architects

Anthemius and Isidorus

-physics and geometry experts

Title: Plan and section of the

Church of Hagia Sophia

2narthex

No nave just large Naos

Domes with in domes

The central dome tours above

the rest

Title: Church of S. Vitale, south wall of the

sanctuary. Abel and Melchizedek shown In the

lunette (at right), and Christ Enthroned,

Flanked By Saint Vitalis and Bishop Ecclesius

in the half dome

Date: Consecrated 547

Title: Emperor Justinian and His Attendants, North wall of the apse

Medium: Mosaic

Size: 8'8" X 12" (2.64 X 3.65 m)

Date: Consecrated 547

Justinian and his attendants he wears a crown and huge purple cloak ..royal color

Crosses and gospel book bowl symbolizes the Host or body of christ

Chi Rho

Depth ?

Burning incense

Title: Empress Theodora and Her Attendants, South wall of the apse

Medium: Mosaic

Size: 8'8" X 12" (2.64 X 3.65 m)

Date: Consecrated 547

Theodora, standing beneath fluted canopy holding a golden chalice, wearing purple

Magi- on her robe

Intense gaze lots of

Jewels on her crown

Richness of the court

Layers and layers of

Silk and linens

Title: The Transfiguration of Christ

with Sant’Apollinare, First Bishop of

Ravenna

Medium: Mosaics

Date: Consecrated 549 apse, 6th

century; wall above apse, 7th and 9th

centuries; side panels, 7th century

Apse mosaic

Symbols?

Christ Transfiguration

(Jesus' Revelation of his divinity)

Elijah and Moses and hand of God

emerge from the clouds

3 sheep represent apostoles, Peter,

John, James

No spatial recession

Gesture, and halo

Artist: Probably from the court workshop at

Constantinople

Title: Archangel Michael, Panel of a diptych

Medium: Ivory

Size: 17 X 15½" (43.3 X 14 cm)

Date: Early 6th century

Ivory

Arch Angel Michael, original part of Diptych

Space is off,

classic idealized style

Divine Messenger hold a staff of power

Orb topped with cross

Columns with round arch

Title: Rebecca at the Well

Medium: Tempera, gold, and silver paint

on purple-dyed vellum

Size: 13 ½ X 9⅞" (33.7 X 25 cm)

Date: Early 6th century

Scriptorium- writing room

Manuscripts- hand written books

Codex- early book

Used very costly materials such as

vellum- fine writing surface made of

calfskin

From book of Genesis, mimics

continuous narrative, written in Greek

Mini- colonnaded road city behind, get

water gives some to Elizer marries Isaac

Abrahams son.

Title: The Crucifixion and Resurrection

Size: 13½ X 10½" (33.7 X 26.7 cm)

Date: 586

Illustrations of manuscripts inspired by

church mosaics

Christ death and Resurrection

Byzantine Christ is older, and bearded and

triumphs over death

Wearing purple which is royal

Disc.. Sun and moon

Spear, vinegar instead of water

Bottom- door open guards stunned

Lush foliage

Title: The Ascension

Medium: n/a

Size: 13½ X 10½" (33.7 X 26.7 cm)

Date: 586

Clouds are transformed into a mandorla- a

full body halo

Fiery wheels and 4 beasts seen by the

prophet Ezekiel

Which symbolize who?

Virgin in pose of an orant

Angels give explanations to the apostles

Title: Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels

Icon

Medium: Encaustic on wood

Size: 27 X 18⅞" (69 X 48 cm)

Date: Second half of the 6th century

Icon very rare due to Iconoclasm 726 by Leo

Mary sits with son, she is the intermediary

between her divine son and worshippers

Christian warrior saints Theodore and George-

slain the dragon that is paganism

Angels behind then

Saints more stylized then other figures

Middle Byzantine

• Byzantine empire shrinks to Turkey and areas around black sea

• 843-1204

• Peace until the Crusaders in 1204

• Reign under Macedonian Dynasty cultural rebirth (873-1056)

• Art reflects strong spiritual focus

Title: Cathedral of St. Mark. View

looking toward apse

Date: Present building begun 1063

Molded after the Holy apostle Church

in Constantinople

Domed Greek cross plan

5 great domes, supported by

pendentives and surround by barrel

vaults

Marble on lower walls mosaic above in

a golden material

Stored bones of Patron saint of Venice,

Saint Mark

Dome depict the Pentecost, Holy Spirit

to the Apostles

Title: Interior, Cathedral of Santa Sophia.

Apse mosaic: Orant Virgin and

Communion of the Apostles

Date: 1037–46

Foubnded by Grand Price Yaroslav after

the city of Kiev burned in 1017

Quincunx dome plan but then expanded to

have double side aisles, 5 apses, a large

central dome, and 12 smaller domes

Why 13 domes?

Confusing compartmentalizing interior

interior has lavish decorations and

mosaics

Title: Virgin of Vladimir Icon

Medium: Tempera on panel

Size: height approx. 31" (78 cm)

Date: Faces, 11th–12th century; the figures

have been retouched

Icon

Greatly revered

Humanized approach, Jesus is being loving

held and shown affection

More intimate and personal religion

Paintings of this are know as virgin of

compassion showing the 2 pressing cheeks

together

Title: Central Domed Space and Apse (the

Naos), Katholikon

Date: Early 11th century and later

Greece

2 churches joined, the dome is supported on

squinches-arch or lintel built across square

spaces to support a dome

Dome above ring of arch windows

Lots of elements, including domes, squinches,

pendentives, groin vaults, barrel vaults, and

arcades

Eyes drawn up into dome space

Single, double, and triple windows all used

Decorated in mosaics

Title: Crucifixion

Medium: Mosaic

Date: Late 11th century

Jesus is shown sagging and close to

death

No royal robe

Blood and Water from his side

Not many people Mary and Young

John the Apostle

Form anchored to the world by blood

and a few plants

Halos shown on all 3

Simple forms make this emotional

Title: Palatine Chapel, view toward the

East

Date: Mid-12th century

Sicily

Basilica Style Church

Arcades of Decorated Columns and

spandrels

Byzantine dome of Squinches

Blessing Christ holds an open book

Mosaic floors

Well proportioned figures fill the areas

of the church

Strong contrast of light and dark to

separate figures from back grounds

Very energetic!

Title: Chamber of King Roger, Norman

Palace

Date: Mid-12th century

Domestic byzantine Art,

“Kings Chamber”

Marble panels at floor

Mosaics cover upper walls and vault

Highly stylized lions, trees, centaurs,

peacocks, and hunters

AND GIRFFINS!

Gilded Interiors reflected light

Title: Harbaville Triptych

Medium: Ivory

Size: closed 11 X 9½" (28 X 24.1 cm) open 11

X 19" (28 X 48.2 cm)

Date: Mid-11th century

Mary and John the Baptist

flank Jesus in the middle

panel

Other figures are military

saints and Martyrs

Was likely to have been

brightly painted

High relief

Roundels have heads

carved into them to depict

more people

Title: Archangel Michael, icon

Medium: Silver gilt with enamel

Size: 19 X 14" (48 X 36 cm)

Date: Late 10th or early 11th century

Spoke about how angels and archangels

would have been the mediate between

humans and God

Head and hands executed in relief

Jewels covered his hallo, clothes, and

wings also the frames

Cloisonne- outer frame

Roundels depict faces on enamel

Same idealized grace as the ivory

Title: David the Psalmist

Medium: Paint and gold on vellum

Size: sheet size 14 X 10½" (35.6 X 26 cm)

Date: Second half of the 10th century

Atmospheric perspective

3-d figures reside in a receding space

Lush greenery and animals occupy the page

Classical inspiration- Melody leans casually

on David, Wood Nymph Echo hide behind

column, Mt. Bethlehem personified in the

lower right

Similar to Orpheus who soothed the sheep

with music.

Late Byzantine Art

• 1261

• After Byzantine expelled the crusaders

• Rebuilding or adding on to existing structures

• Very impressive interior decors

Title: Funerary Chapel, Church of

the Monastery of Christ

Date: c. 1310–21

Sarcophagi filled the wall spaces

Jesus enter Limbo to rescue from

the devil for adam and eve

Sarcophagi would have been

surround by portraits of the

deceases

Last judgment painted on the vault

of the nave

Title: Anastasis

Medium: fresco

Apse of the Funerary chapel

Christ the Savior in White, moves with force, sporting a mandorla

What is he standing on? Who are the people he is holding and who is behind him?

Artist: Andrey Rublyov

Title: The Old Testament Trinity

(Three Angels Visiting Abraham), icon

Medium: Tempera on panel

Size: 55½ X 44½" (141 X 113 cm)

Date: c. 1410–25

Adam and his wife who entertain 3

identical strangers who are divine

beings

Representing the Trinity

Like the Greeks later Byzantines relied

on Mathematical equations to create

ideal beings

Triangle and balance

Few people more focus on the message